Ekejiuba re-signs (w.contract numbers)

They agreed to terms with special teams star Isaiah Ekejiuba to a three-year contract Saturday night, a league source told The Chronicle, just as the Pro Bowl alternate was preparing to visit other interested NFL teams.

(Sunday update: I just got the contract numbers from a league source, who said the contract is three years for $5.4 million with a $1.25 million signing bonus. That’s a $2.45 million check in the first year of the contract.

This is believed to be the richest contract for a pure special teams player, not including kickers and punters. The Broncos paid Darrell Reid more but he also plays defense — Ekejiuba played eight snaps of defense last season.

The previous high-contract for a strictly special teams player went last year to Baltimore’s Brendon Ayanbadejo, a three-time Pro Bowler who got four years for $4.89 million last year.

Ekejiuba went to team headquarters this Sunday morning and signed the deal.)

Ekejiuba made $927,000 last season as a restricted free agent. He started on the Raiders practice squad in 2005 and quickly became a force in every special teams phase.

By signing Ekejiuba, the Raiders have kept intact the most important cog on a special teams unit that ranked fifth in the NFL, according to rankings kept by Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News. They have also put tenders on restricted free agents Jon Alston, Jon Condo and Ricky Brown — special team staples, one and all. Marquis Cooper is already under contract for next season, making Tony Stewart and Sam Williams the only core members left un-signed.

This may not do anything to address their concerns on the offensive line and safety positions, but it’s important nonetheless. Just ask Pro Bowl punter Shane Lechler, who goes out of his way to say guys like Ike who are behind his NFL-leading net averages.